Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano indicated SS Chris X. Clemons could win the starting free safety job if he performs well in the team's first preseason game, according to Omar Kelly, of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Coach Sparano wrote:

Feel really good with chris clemons. He’s taken over 750 reps this spring and very rarely makes mental errors and has range. He also “has a sense for the football, the ball kinda finds this guy back there and I believe that’s a good trait for a safety”.

It seems like he always had the physical ability for the position, but maybe not the mental part of playing FS. In an interview he did with the miamidolphin site I remember him saying that YB showed him how to study film, and it was the first time he ever did it before. So I guess a season and two off seasons of learning how to study film and prepare for a game have done wonders for the kid.

Tomorrow night will give a glimpse at what he's learned and how well he communicates while out on the field playing general for the secondary.

I am really happy about this. All big names were once unknown. This guy has greasy fast speed and now seems to be mastering the mental side of the game. Not a bad combination at all. I am starting to feel much better about our situation at safety.